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Drop, cover and hold: Key elements of earthquake preparedness
To ensure communities across California have access to life-saving resources and knowledge to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake, Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media, in partnership with Listos California, briefed the community on earthquake preparedness
Representative Image / Pexels
On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m., an earthquake shook the ground along a 25-mile stretch of the San Andreas Fault where it traverses the Santa Cruz Mountains. The size of the quake was measured on the Richter scale at 7.1 and the shaking lasted about 10 seconds. At least 63 people died; thousands more were injured. The cost of repairs would top over $10 billion and more that 27,000 structures were damaged. This would be the most significant and deadly earthquake in California since 1906. Thirty five years later the terror of the quake has not been forgotten. New systems aimed to mitigate the harm caused by an earthquake are now in place.
To ensure communities across California have access to life-saving resources and knowledge to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake, Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media, in partnership with Listos California, briefed the community on earthquake preparedness. They aimed to reach communities across the state with vital knowledge and resources to ensure their safety. There is a need to close the knowledge gap between researchers, professionals, decision makers, and the public
“We never want to take for granted that Californians know what to do when the shaking starts,” said Amy Palmer, Deputy Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs, California
What's the best thing I can do to prepare today for an earthquake?
Get a quick early warning alert. Have these seconds that will save lives.
The state of California has installed earthquake sensors all over the state to pick up on tremors, Jose Lara, the Chief of the Seismic Hazards Branch at Cal OES explained. “Our system of statewide sensors are actually giving people a significant number of seconds even before the shaking starts.”
The speed with which the information is getting from the sensors in the land to the mobile phones in people's hands, through the California Earthquake Early Warning System through the MyShake app is faster than ever before. It was more than 20 seconds of warning for many people before the shaking of the earthquake started, depending on their distance from the epicenter.
Drop, cover, and hold to save your life
People freeze when they have indications of an earthquake. The key is to drop, cover, and hold. when you get an alert on your phone or you feel the very first indications of shaking, said Palmer.
Over 50 percent of all injuries that occur during or after an earthquake actually come from not securing your space. In order to prevent injury by falling furniture and objects, drop to the floor, take cover under a table and hold on in that position until the shaking subsides. The next step is to evacuate the space if necessary after the earthquake and help the injured. Do not leave the building when the tremors begin. Most houses and buildings are steel-based designed dwellings and or commercial buildings designed to life safety building code that allows you to drop, cover, hold. Do not stand under a doorway!
Practice to create muscle memory
Palmer urges families to practice their response. “Cement that through practice and preparation so that it really comes top-of-mind quickly. Without this muscle memory, when shaking arrives at your location, you may not take that protective action that you need to stay safe”.
Check the settings on your phones and verify that wireless emergency alerts and notifications are switched on
With an Apple device the local awareness button ensures receipt of all types of alerts including your earthquake early warning. In an Android-based system the allow alerts button is the enabler for all wireless emergency alerts. Download the MyShake app, for earthquake early warning for California, Oregon and Washington. It is available in six languages, including Spanish and set your home alert system for your area code, your location or where your dear ones are staying.
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